Limassol Zoo to Be Transformed into 'Fysi' Biodiversity Center

After years of delays, the Limassol Zoo is preparing for a major transformation. An updated proposal has been presented to the City Municipal Council to turn the outdated menagerie into a modern Biodiversity and Urban Environment Center named 'Fysi' (Greek for 'Nature').

The project was developed by the Cyprus Center for Environmental Research and Education of the Limassol Metropolis (KYKPEE) and involves a complete shift in concept: moving away from keeping animals in captivity toward an open ecological and educational space.

A key decision is the complete phase-out of captive animals. All current inhabitants will be transferred to certified sanctuaries following scientific protocols and ensuring process transparency. The initiative's authors call this a transition from a 'display' model to a 'coexistence' model.

The plans for the site include:

• Interactive and digital stations with databases on Cyprus's flora and fauna;
• 'Living laboratories' and micro-ecosystems within the urban environment;
• Educational programs for children, families, and researchers;
• Zones dedicated to urbanism, microclimate, 'heat islands', light pollution, and sustainable mobility;
• An art space with ecological installations.

The center will become part of an international network for ecological citizenship and will collaborate with 88 scientific centers and universities in 39 countries.

Online consultations with residents are currently underway. A face-to-face meeting is scheduled for March 4 at the Panos Solomonidis Cultural Center in Limassol. According to KYKPEE Scientific Director Andreas Hadjichambis, initial feedback has been positive.

The project is positioned as a new milestone for the city, turning the former zoo grounds into a modern, eco-friendly, and internationally oriented space.